In a week when he tried to focus attention on the struggles of the middle class, President Obama said in an interview that he was worried that years of widening income inequality and the lingering effects of the financial crisis had frayed the country’s social fabric and undermined Americans’ belief in opportunity.

“If the economy is growing, everybody feels invested,” President Obama said in an interview last week in Galesburg, Ill. “Everybody feels as if we’re rolling in the same direction.”

Upward mobility, Mr. Obama said in a 40-minute interview with The New York Times, “was part and parcel of who we were as Americans.”

“And that’s what’s been eroding over the last 20, 30 years, well before the financial crisis,” he added.

“If we don’t do anything, then growth will be slower than it should be. Unemployment will not go down as fast as it should. Income inequality will continue to rise,” he said. “That’s not a future that we should accept.”….

Such a wise, wise man. The income gap, I believe, is at the root of the cynicism that the country is experiencing…and has for some time now. Unless people wake up, get honest about the who and why was responsible for this….we are never going to reach our full potential as a country. I firmly believe this.

The responsibility as President Obama states goes back 20 -30 years…probably more. Each time we give “power” to the right by not showing up, by not shouting out, by accepting that people will SOON “see” the reason we are not prospering, we make a very dangerous mistake. We need a new mindset that perhaps takes us all out to the STREETS to raise our voices in unison with the President much more loudly than we ever have, We must be consistent over the long haul and continue to rise up as fervent supporters of our nation. Jobs, economy, justice for all…every SINGLE time these obstructionists take to the airways with hate we take to social media-each and everyone of use- to repute their lies and hypocrisy. We have to stand together in the flesh not just in like mindedness. We are in a battle to save this country from people who want all or nothing. Let’s give them the NOTHING they deserve.

Bless your sweet heart:) I agree with you…with each passing day, I do think that Americans are seeing more and more of a radical and dangerous RW ideology. I don’t know if we’ll ever take to the streets en masse like you suggest…I would just be happy if people paid attention and voted in EVERY ELECTION!

I don’t know who Steve Rattner is, but he is correct, and this word should be spread everywhere! Detroit’s problems go WAY back…..not the workers, not the unions……..go back to Reagan and his disastrous policies which have been insidiously working.

Also, I’m so glad the President is talking about the INCOME GAP. The beginnings of that also go back to Reagan and his policies. Many of these policy changes take years to show up in every day life, but eventually they will. California suffered for decades because of him, and the country is also. Fortunately, California is being steered smartly now and is turning around. But, they got rid of the far right faction in their legislature, so they could actually do something!

I used to live in Belfair on the Hood Canal when hubby was in the Navy….If I could live closer to Seattle, I think I’d come in a second:) Belfair was ok for a beach house summer thing….but not all year round. I’m a city girl.

I’ve not been to Belfair, DF, but I hear is it lovely. I’m in the NE, UW district, easy peasey access to downtown, tho you have to transfer busses to go anywhere, the light rail is coming in 2016, thanks to President Obama and Governor Gregoire! You would certainly want to live close in.

Steven Lawrence Rattner (born July 5, 1952) is an American financier who served as the lead auto advisor (informally the “car czar”) in the United States Treasury Department under President Barack Obama …

Rattner is married to Maureen White, who served for five years as finance chair for the Democratic National Committee and is now the Senior Advisor on Humanitarian Issues to the Special Representative-Afghanistan and Pakistan for the U.S. Department of State. They have four grown children and live in New York.

Now that we’ve been able to climb out of the horrific recession left by Bush for the most part, people naturally focus on their long-term viability. PBO is right to be worried by this glaring income disparity.

Contrary to popular belief, Republicans don’t hate budget deficits. On the contrary, they love them. When they occur on the Democrats’ watch, they provide Republicans with endless talking points on how they are bankrupting the country and will inevitably lead to high inflation and interest rates. This is good for Republicans, politically, because rich people, the elderly and other core elements of the Republican coalition get scared and give lots of money to Republican candidates.
In office, of course, Republicans care nothing about the deficit. They cut taxes willy-nilly, sharply raise defense spending and start wars if necessary to justify it, create huge numbers of pork barrel projects, and enact massive new entitlement programs such as Medicare Part D, all while asserting that they are the party of fiscal responsibility.

Yet another reason why women who support the GOP must be living in a world of make believe. I cannot believe ANY person considers themselves to be a 2nd class citizen, yet they support this type of inequality?

No other president in my living memory could conduct such an indepth interview, with all the data at his fingertips, without notes. An amazing tour de force. WHEN will certain people realize how smart this man is, and how he is the ONLY one to be president at this time; how broad and long his vision is; how sensible and perceptive his ideas for solutions are. The news people and certain politicians need to catch up with him.

I think that is IS leaning to no…I think SOS Kerry is against it, I think that with his giant push for CLEAN ENERGY….this goes against everything that that stands for. Not good for the American lands or its people. Let Canada shut that nasty thing down or figure out a way to transport their own sludge.

Back in the mid-1960s, he and Don Drysdale “held out” for $100,000 per year (didn’t show up for training camp) and were excoriated by the media. Sports players have a short career, and according to http://www.usinflationcalculator.com, $100K in 1964 would equal $753,240 in 2013.

And what are star pro-athletes making now? Upwards of millions of dollars a year. Koufax and Drysdale were asking for less than $1 million a year, Koufax was THE pitching star for the National League (Dodgers).

And CEO pay? There’s reams of data on how much MORE, relative to 40-50 years ago, they are making.

So in that spirit, take a listen to this hysterical audio of JFK scolding a Naval Aide for $5,000 (less than $40K today) worth of furniture for Jackie O (in case of premature baby delivery):

Oh, forgot to say that American taxpayers wouldn’t have reacted that negatively (except for the Birchers, of course).

America loved Jackie, she had a miscarriage before and it ended up that this baby sadly only lived a few days (I think, going off memory here). But regardless, I think taxpayers wouldn’t have minded that they were contributing a dollar or two for the comfort of the First Lady and infant.

And as long as we’re bashing upChuck, he’s the one who is rudely pointing at the President in the photo that Chips posted on today’s Rise and Shine about how little diversity exists in WHPC and print and radio media. Jay looks like he wants to get as far away from upChuck as possible.

G’Night TODobots! First time I’ve used THAT as my arrival greeting, I think. 😀

For those who have been keeping tabs on me – the family made it through the funeral, a-okay. Thank you all very much for your supportive thoughts, prayers and shoulders (😉 Alycee)! It turned out to be a true celebration of a life well-lived. A short life, yes, but a life in which many saw the joie de vivre, the happiness, the fun, and a heart for others. My nephew’s principal who acted in that role ever since his first day of kindergarten, and incidentally just finished serving her last year at his school (they rotate principals and v/p-pals every few years here) did a terrific job capturing his life at school. Young cousins and his siblings shared musical tributes. Really the young people were impressive – a quartet, ages 7-12 sang; a trio played piano, clarinet, drums; one shy 14 yr old read a poem (he had to go on the altar with the trio; another musical selection included the piano player and drummer with a saxophonist (nephew’s only sister); and finally the piano player did a solo, including Bob Marley’s ‘One Love’. Oh, and one of his aunts did the eulogy😉 sharing memories and incidents from his life at home & in the neighbourhood, There were other pieces to the program though I mostly shared what family members did.

It was beautiful…. and lively, Df, capturing his spirit very well; it’s also a relief that part is now behind us.
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I’m doing a very, very brief overview in the village before heading to bed as I am quite sleepy. I’m not even going to pretend that I can catch up, at least not tonight.

It all seemed to go really well, JO’B, though it’s hard to tell when you are involved but people were kind in their comments, even to the “eulogiste”. 😉 😉 Also, lots of cousins came, and even one or two family friends I hadn’t seen since nephew was a baby.

Sorry I have missed your earlier comments VC – as much as these events are a celebration of life – the sadness lingers – especially when a life is cut short – it sounds like everyone who knew him brought him to the gathering – for one last time – much to remember and love.

Article was good; interview transcript was GREAT. I prefer the President’s words unfiltered!

Best quote:

“And if Congress thinks that what I’ve done is inappropriate or wrong in some fashion, they’re free to make that case. But there’s not an action that I take that you don’t have some folks in Congress who say that I’m usurping my authority. Some of those folks think I usurp my authority by having the gall to win the presidency. And I don’t think that’s a secret. But ultimately, I’m not concerned about their opinions — very few of them, by the way, are lawyers, much less constitutional lawyers. ”

Thank you so much, Alycee, for sharing with us the transcript of President Obama’s interview with the NYT. I wish Americans listened to, or read, what President Obama says and plans on doing, without having to go through the media filters.

BAM!
Translation: I am the President of the U.S.2X’s!
You fucking bastards did not think it was going to happen the first time. You tried everything in the book to prevent this from happening. Now, stand back and watch the power of a loving God make you my foot stools.
What fools you are to test me with the constitutional laws I taught. I know you and know how you think. 3D chess is the game now.

Waiting for you dumb asses to catch up while you and your party be exposed for the liars, cheats and hypocrites you are.
Change was not just a meme, but an opportunity for a transition of your minds. You rejected. You will be ejected in 2014.
Plot as scheme all you want, the paradigm shift has been set in motion.
I have ran out of patience. You have ran out of time.
Yes, we can. Yes, we did. Yes, we will.

A petition calling on Twitter to add a “report abuse” button has received thousands of signatures.

It follows a deluge of abuse and rape threats received by Caroline Criado-Perez, who successfully campaigned for women to be included on UK banknotes.

MP Stella Creasy told the BBC she was “furious” Twitter had yet to do anything about Ms Criado-Perez’s abuse.

Twitter UK’s Tony Wang said the company was “testing ways to simplify” reporting abuse.

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The petition says: “Abuse on Twitter is common; sadly too common. And it frequently goes ignored. We need Twitter to recognise that its current reporting system is below required standards.

“The report abuse button needs to be accompanied by Twitter reviewing the T&C [terms and conditions] on abusive behaviour to reflect an awareness of the complexity of violence against women, and the multiple oppressions women face. It’s time Twitter started protecting its users.”

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A Twitter spokesperson said: “The ability to report individual tweets for abuse is currently available on Twitter for iPhone and we plan to bring this functionality to other platforms, including Android and the web.

“We don’t comment on individual accounts. However, we have rules which people agree to abide by when they sign up to Twitter. We will suspend accounts that once reported to us, are found to be in breach of our rules.

“We encourage users to report an account for violation of the Twitter rules by using one of our report forms.”

Today was a good day. I got some quality time with my wife since the kids slept most of the way to San Diego. (Leaving home at 5:20 a.m. does that for you.) We had lunch at Slater’s 50/50 which lived up to all of my expectations all the way down to my favorite band on the house stereo followed a couple of songs later by a song that my children absolutely love. We saw a group of dog lovers doing a friendly canine agility competition and we got to pet a bunch of pooches. (I dearly love dogs. They’re the best people in the world.) I got my feet in the surf in the Pacific. I found some still water trapped in the rocks that contained a lot of life that I could show my children. The only less than optimal things was that the heavy cloud cover made watching he sun set into the ocean impossible. I’ve got 2 more days for that.

Watching pelicans smack their face into the water is great too. What a silly bird!

Okay what is with the big outcry over Larry Summers? I looked him up and yeah he’s a little shady but not as bad as the left is crying about. I’d prefer Janet Yellen for sure but I wouldn’t cry overly over Larry Summers being picked. Either one is better than Bernake.

I’ve never figured out why the emoprogs hate Larry Summers so much. By any objective standards, Larry Summers is a highly regarded economist with practical experience in both the government and academia. Unlike you, I think Bernake has done a superb job.

‘ The president of Harvard University, Lawrence H. Summers, sparked an uproar at an academic conference Friday when he said that innate differences between men and women might be one reason fewer women succeed in science and math careers. Summers also questioned how much of a role discrimination plays in the dearth of female professors in science and engineering…’

Many officials in the most segregated states feel that the Court’s decision violates states’ rights, and implement only token measures to begin desegregation. Some officials are openly defiant, challenging the decision from different angles in court and passing laws to circumvent it. Integration proceeds very slowly..

“If Congress thinks that what I’ve done is inappropriate or wrong in some fashion, they’re free to make that case,” he said. “But there’s not an action that I take that you don’t have some folks in Congress who say that I’m usurping my authority. Some of those folks think I usurp my authority by having the gall to win the presidency.”

Alycee, just finished reading the entire NYT interview. Thank you again.
What a smart, intelligent President we have. These Repugs in Congress are truly a pathetic bunch. They are cowards, spineless and hypocrites. I know that our President is working hard for all of us while these idiots are in recession. Why do they bother to come back? They do absolutely nothing but collect a check and expect perks. I am so sick of them.

I commend our President for his hard work, persistence, and determination. I respect this man so much for all he is doing.
As another birthday draws near, my prayer tonight is that his 1,200 days in office are filled with PEACE.
As VC says, good night and good morning!

Interesting to me because this is my heritage. Scandanavia really is a kinder, gentler culture—–not so frantic—–and those countries always rank the highest in the world in population happiness and contentment. Maybe there are lessons to be learned…..

What’s happening in America is not just some random mish-mash of racial and post-racial attitudes. There are massive historical and structural forces at work. Individual attitudes matter, of course, but they are only one facet of a much more complicated story – a story whose scope and essence is much more readily grasped through the lens of white supremacy, a system of racial group dominance, rather than racism, which most folks conceive of primarily or entirely in terms of conscious individual attitudes.